Abstract: A lighting system utilizes intelligent system elements, such as lighting devices, user interfaces for lighting control or the like and possibly sensors. The system also has a data communication network. Some number of the intelligent lighting system elements, including at least two of the lighting devices, also support wireless communication with non-lighting-system devices at the premises. Each such element has a communication interface system configured to provide a short range, low power wireless data communication link for use by non-lighting-system devices at the premises in proximity to the respective intelligent system element. Also, in such an element, the processor is configured to control communications via the communication interface system so as to provide access to the data network and through the data network to the wide area network outside the premises for non-lighting related communications of the non-lighting-system devices.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of hyperspectral imager-equipped lighting devices that provide general illumination supplied by artificial or natural light, and that also detect environmental conditions in the environment around the lighting device. The hyperspectral imager detects light within a contiguous spectral band from the environment in the vicinity of the lighting device. In response, the hyperspectral imager generates image data representative of the spectral intensity of one or more subsets of a continuous spectrum of wavelengths of the detected light. A controller may analyze the image data generated by the hyperspectral imager and may initiate action to control operation of the light source or building management products based on an environmental condition detected by the analysis of the generated image data.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of hyperspectral imager-equipped lighting devices that provide general illumination supplied by artificial or natural light, and that also detect environmental conditions in the environment around the lighting device. The hyperspectral imager detects light within a contiguous data from the environment in the vicinity of the lighting device. In response, the hyperspectral imager generates image data representative of the spectral intensity distribution (e.g. intensities of a continuous range wavelengths in the optical spectrum) of the detected light. A controller may analyze the image data generated by the hyperspectral imager and may initiate action based on, or outputs a report indicating, an environmental condition detected by the analysis of the generated image data.

Abstract: An example of a lighting system includes intelligent lighting devices, each of which includes a light source, a communication interface and a processor coupled to control the light source. In such a system, at least one of the lighting devices includes a user input sensor to detect user activity related to user inputs without requiring physical contact of the user; and at least one of the lighting devices includes an output component to provide information output to the user. One or more of the processors in the intelligent lighting devices are further configured to process user inputs detected by the user input sensor, control lighting and control output to a user via the output component so as to implement an interactive user interface for the system, for example, to facilitate user control of lighting operations of the system and/or to act as a user interface portal for other services.

Abstract: A lighting system includes luminaires each having a light source for providing illumination in a space and a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna. An RFID reader is coupled to the RFID antennas in all the luminaires. The RFID reader may transmit at least one RFID intended recipient message from at least one of the antennas and receive a responsive RFID reply message from a recipient device within the space via a plurality of the antennas. The RFID reader may determine a signal attribute of a reply message signal received via each receiving antenna. The determined signal attributes of the reply message signals received via antennas and information about locations of the receiving antennas are processed to estimate a position of the recipient device within the space.

Abstract: A lighting system includes luminaires each having a light source for providing illumination in a space and a radio frequency identification (RFID) antenna. An RFID reader is coupled to the RFID antennas in all the luminaires. The RFID reader may transmit at least one RFID intended recipient message from at least one of the antennas and receive a responsive RFID reply message from a recipient device within the space via a plurality of the antennas. The RFID reader may determine a signal attribute of a reply message signal received via each receiving antenna. The determined signal attributes of the reply message signals received via antennas and information about locations of the receiving antennas are processed to estimate a position of the recipient device within the space.

Abstract: The examples relate to various implementations of a software configurable lighting device, installed as a panel, that offers the capability to appear like and emulate a variety of different lighting devices. Emulation includes the appearance of the lighting device as installed in the wall or ceiling, possibly, both when lighting and when not lighting, as well as light output distribution, e.g. direction and/or beam shape.

Abstract: A lighting device or an apparatus for use with a light source has one or more sensors, intelligence in the form of programmed processors and communication capabilities. Each sensor is configured to monitor one or more conditions external to a lighting device not directly related to operational performance of the respective lighting device. Programming provides a standardized interface to enable processing of sensed conditions from sensors of different types.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of spectrometer-equipped devices that provide general illumination supplied by artificial or natural light, and that also detect substances in the environment around the device. In some examples, light may be emitted by a spectrometer light source. The spectrometer detects the light from any of a natural light source, artificial general illumination light or light from the spectrometer light source passed, reflected or shifted and regenerated by substances in the air or on a surface in the vicinity of the device. In response, the spectrometer generates signals representative of the spectral power distribution (e.g. intensities of given wavelengths in the optical spectrum) of the detected light. A controller analyzes the spectrometer generated signals and initiates action based on or outputs a report indicating the environmental condition detected by the spectrometer-equipped device.

Abstract: An example of a lighting system includes intelligent lighting devices, each of which includes a light source, a communication interface and a processor coupled to control the light source. In such a system, at least one of the lighting devices includes a user input sensor to detect user activity related to user inputs without requiring physical contact of the user; and at least one of the lighting devices includes an output component to provide information output to the user. One or more of the processors in the intelligent lighting devices are further configured to process user inputs detected by the user input sensor, control lighting and control output to a user via the output component so as to implement an interactive user interface for the system, for example, to facilitate user control of lighting operations of the system and/or to act as a user interface portal for other services.

Abstract: The disclosed examples relate to various implementations of a micro-light emitting diode upon which is built a controllable variable optic to provide a chip-scale light emitting device. An example of the controllable variable optic described herein is a controllable electrowetting structure having a leak-proof sealed cell with a first fluid having a first index of refraction and a second fluid having a second index of refraction. The controllable electrowetting structure may be integrally formed on or in a substrate or semiconductor material associated with the micro-light emitting diode in alignment with one or more of the light emitting diodes of the micro-LED device to provide a controllable lighting distribution.

Abstract: Disclosed are examples of lighting devices and other devices that are equipped with a cellular transceiver that is configured to communicate using cellular radio frequency spectrum in both a small-scale cellular network and a large-scale cellular communication network. By utilizing a short-range, low-power cellular transceiver setting, a lighting device facilitates communication, within the space in which the lighting device is installed, of messages between the lighting device and other types of user devices. Such an equipped lighting device may be configured to participate in the generation and delivery of different types of messages, such as data, emergency broadcast information, news and other information. Such a lighting device also may be configured to extend the reach of devices within the space in which the equipped lighting devices are located.

Abstract: Examples relate to a method and implementations of general illumination light emitters, an image display device and an image diffuser in a luminaire. The image display device is configured to output an image having a reduced, or first, pixel image fill factor and, as a result, might appear pixelated. To mitigate the pixelation, the image diffuser has a predetermined image diffusion angle and is a predetermined distance from the image display device. The image diffuser outputs an image having a second image pixel fill factor that is greater than the first image pixel fill factor. The appearance of the outputted image appears to be formed from fuzzy pixels. Characteristics related to the image, device, diffuser, and their arrangement may be optimized to provide the fuzzy pixels. A luminaire may output an image formed of the fuzzy pixels and general illumination lighting to an area.

Abstract: At least one controllable source of visible light is configured to illuminate a space to be utilized by one or more occupants. A controller causes the source(s) to emit light in a manner that varies at least one characteristic of visible light emitted into the space over a period of time at least in part in accordance with a chaotic function.

Abstract: A system, method and portable device are provided in which rolling shutter images containing visible light communication (VLC) transmissions from one or more light sources carrying information data in dark or low surrounding lighting in an indoor or outdoor setting are captured. The captured rolling shutter images are analyzed to determine whether the modulated visible light output from the light devices is a predetermined size within the captured rolling shutter image. When the modulated visible light output is not the predetermined size, adjustments are made to settings of the image sensor to scatter, defocus or overexpose the image to cause the modulated visible light output in a new captured rolling shutter image to be at least the predetermined size. The modulated visible light output of the predetermined size or larger is decoded to provide information data for a communication application.

Abstract: The examples relate to implementations of apparatuses, such as lighting devices, and a system that uses a speech-based user interface to provide speech-based navigation services. The speech-based user interface provides navigation instructions that direct a person to the location of an item within a premises. The person interacts with a speech-based apparatus to receive the navigation instructions as speech-based directions through the premises from a specified location to the item location, or as static navigation instructions enabling the person to navigate from the specified location to the item location. A directional microphone and a controllable speaker receive audio inputs from and output audio outputs to a specified location or subarea of the premises to a person using the speech-based user interface. The audio outputs are directed to the person in the subarea of the premises, and have a higher amplitude within the subarea than outside the subarea of the premises.

Abstract: A lighting device obtains data related to objects and boundaries in an area in the vicinity of the lighting device, and a user wearable device provides a display (e.g. an augmented reality display based on the data related to the objects and the area boundaries) for a user/wearer. The lighting device includes a mapping sensor that collects data related to the objects and boundaries in the area. The user wearable device includes a camera or other optical sensor and wireless communication capability. The user wearable device is provided with mapping data that is presented on a display of the user wearable device. The communications and display capabilities allow the user wearable device to obtain room mapping information related to area in the vicinity of the lighting device in order to provide navigational assistance to a visually impaired person in the area.

Abstract: A device uses gated retro-reflectors to transmit uplink data in a visible light communication (VLC) system. The gated retro-reflector includes a retro-reflector and a gating shutter between the retro-reflector and a VLC light source. A light sensor receives VLC data at regular intervals in which a light pulse received during one of the intervals represents a first downloaded symbol and absence of a light pulse during another one of the intervals represents a second downloaded symbol. A controller controls the gating shutter to send uplink data from the device responsive to each received VLC light pulse. The controller opens the gating shutter during the reception of a VLC light pulse to upload a first uploaded symbol and closes the gating shutter during the reception of a VLC light pulse to upload a second uploaded symbol.

Abstract: A lighting device utilizes physical or virtual separation of elements within the lighting device to isolate a first portion of data for delivery to a first data network from a second portion of data for delivery to a second data network. The first portion of data relates to a first signal generated responsive to a first sensed condition. The second portion of data may relate to the first signal or to a second signal generated responsive to the first sensed condition or a second sensed condition. The lighting device utilizes a first communication interface to deliver the first portion of data to the first data network and a second communication interface to deliver the second portion of data to the second data network.

Abstract: Examples relate to a method and implementations of general illumination light emitters, an image display device and an image diffuser in a luminaire. The image display device is configured to output an image having a reduced, or first, pixel image fill factor and, as a result, might appear pixelated. To mitigate the pixelation, the image diffuser has a predetermined image diffusion angle and is a predetermined distance from the image display device. The image diffuser outputs an image having a second image pixel fill factor that is greater than the first image pixel fill factor. The appearance of the outputted image appears to be formed from fuzzy pixels. Characteristics related to the image, device, diffuser, and their arrangement may be optimized to provide the fuzzy pixels. A luminaire may output an image formed of the fuzzy pixels and general illumination lighting to an area.